Champions' skipper: It's hard to get motivated when we don't know about cricket's return

The Sussex League champions have been training in small groups but don’t know if there will be any sort of league season to give them the chance to show they were worthy champions in 2019.

Davies said: “We have started to return to training which has been nice but without any certainty about the season, it is hard to find the motivation. However, it is nice to get together as a team and club.

“It is frustrating to not be able to play cricket at the moment. However, there are much more important things going on in the world so it is certainly about putting things in perspective. We will be able to return to the field at some point when it is safe to do so, which is the most important thing.”

Davies says he can understand the move made by the league, after consultation with clubs, to rule out any promotion or relegation this year even if a shortened season can be staged.

“It is a shame they have chosen to remove the relegation and promotion; it will certainly reduce the competitive aspect for many sides, particularly in the divisions outside the Premier League,” he said.

“Nevertheless, clubs work extremely hard to gain promotion, especially to the Premier League, and therefore you would have to feel sympathy for a side that would be relegated based on their performance in a shortened season. The fewer the number of games, the more even the league becomes and so it becomes more of a lottery.”

Davies said he hoped a cup competition could be held to give a competitive element to what remained of the season.

He revealed the clubhouse had been refurbished and redecorated over the winter.

“It was a real club effort with many of our members helping out and we are really pleased with the way it now looks. Hopefully we will be able to enjoy it sometime soon,” he added.